But Dame Sally said it was the liver disease figures that most shocked her the most - and showed there needed to be investment in prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment.

"I was struck by the data on liver disease particularly," she said.

"This is the only major cause of preventative death that is on the increase in England that is generally falling in other comparable European nations.

"We must act to change this."

The report comes after the government said earlier this year it would look to introduce a minimum price for alcohol. A consultation is expected to start soon.

Eric Appleby, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said the situation with liver disease was "appalling".

"It's imperative that we come together now to act swiftly and decisively to tackle this problem," he said.

"Setting a minimum unit price at 50p is one of a number of measures which will help protect those most vulnerable to the harm caused by alcohol misuse and I urge the government to act quickly on this."

Prof Mark Bellis, of the Faculty of Public Health, agreed, saying the figures were "embarrassing" and that tougher action was need on advertising as well as the introduction of minimum pricing.

Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Disease Trust, said the government needed to get the NHS to be more proactive too.

"We need to ensure GPs have far more awareness of liver disease and can recognise lifestyles that might be changed and early symptoms of liver disease so that effective treatments can be started," he said.